Nov. 25: On Vitor Meira and COTA

Question: Two tickets to the Inaugural Grand Prix of Indianapolis, Stand H Section S17 Row AA: $120.00. Gas from Charleston, S.C.: $175, Two nights at the Downtown Embassy Suites: $200. Thinking of excuse to leave your wife at the house and take your best friend: Dangerous, whoops, I mean Priceless. I took your advice and got tickets in Turn 1 road course. We sit in Turn 1 for the 500 as well. Can't wait, it is going to be a great show and a great way to kick off the great month of May. (Chris, Charleston, S.C.)

Answer: I think those seats will be good. After seeing the road course and the new asphalt, I think even more that the Indy cars will race well on it. It should be a good show.

Question: This is a bit out of left field, but I believe that Vitor Miera would be a perfect fit for the No. 10 Target car. He deserves another shot even at 36 years of age. I don't know what a Brazilian stock car gig pays, but I am guessing that he would be affordable for what Scott Dixon affectionately refers to as "Cheap" Ganassi. (Sam, Indianapolis)

Answer: I think there's a wild card in play, but I don't see any way it's Vitor. His IndyCar time has passed, I'm afraid.

Question: After seeing that NHRA's Courtney Force is going to Ohio to visit Graham Rahal, I am wondering if they have something more then friendship going on. This is like the third or fourth visit this year that showed up on Twitter. (David, Durham, N.C.)

Answer: I try to stay out of the personal lives, but Graham and Courtney have made no secret of their blossoming relationship on Twitter. Draw your own conclusions.

Answer: I'm sure there will be some kind of public honoring, but I don't know what it will be. Dario will try to avoid it, but eventually there will be something.

Question: You have already pointed out that Sam Hornish improved as a road racer in IndyCar. I followed Nationwide pretty closely this year, and I would say he is one of the better road racers in NASCAR and probably the best Nationwide regular this year. Thought some of the contributors were pounding him pretty hard without considering his improvement the last few years. (Jim, Indianapolis)

Answer: I think he's more than capable on a road course, even in IndyCar.

Question: Now that he's back in IndyCar, can we drop the "Pablo" and go back to calling him Juan Montoya again? (Matt, Cincinnati)

Answer: I doubt it. I think he prefers it being there.

Question: You said you think IndyCar will be at COTA in 2015. I thought F1 and IndyCar avoided the same tracks in the same year to avoid comparisons. Also, isn't Bernie Ecclestone famously defensive of F1's turf? (Jim, East Granby, Conn.)

Answer: I haven't seen the contract, but I'm told COTA can have an IndyCar race if it wants one.

Question: I'm glad to see Dario made the right choice; that was one nasty crash. I would love to see Justin Wilson get that seat. You couldn't ask for a classier guy and good driver. Maybe that seat at Coyne would open up for Sage Karam or Pippa Mann. (Don, Middletown, Ohio)

Answer: I hope Justin gets the ride at Ganassi, but I just sense it's not going to happen. The one we need to keep an eye on is Sage, who is expecting to get the sponsorship lined up for an IndyCar ride.

Question: Sad to see a great champion like Dario retire. Where do you think he ranks with the all-time greats? And who do you think will get his ride? Any chance of seeing Conor Daly get it? (Chris, Rochester, N.Y.)

Answer: Dario ranks up there with some of the greats, behind only Foyt, Mario and Michael, and the Unsers. I think Dixon is going to have better numbers when he's done. As for Conor, he made the call to the Ganassi camp, but I can't see him getting the ride. He's not the best available, which is what Ganassi said was his plan to get.

Question: Apparently the Road to Indy now leads through Russia. Did Aleshin just show up with a suitcase full of money? I don't get it. (Ron, Muskego, Wis.)

Answer: Well, obviously he's got a nice sponsor, and the team was in need of that with the loss of HP. But Aleshin has shown well in Europe. He is a former World Series by Renault champion, beating Daniel Ricciardo in 2010. Ricciardo will be Sebastian Vettel's teammate next year.